After a runner-up finish in the LCS, they head to Daejeon as the region's second seed — and they open against reigning world champions T1. For Lim "Quid" Hyeon-seung, it's his first international since breaking out at Worlds last year with 100 Thieves, where a fearless run and a standout series against Zhuo "knight" Ding put him on the map. RFT.GG caught up with him ahead of the Play-In.
I'm doing okay. Just grinding solo queue, trying to figure out the meta.
Yeah, we've scrimmed some LCS and LCP teams already.
We didn't really bootcamp. Morgan and I came over earlier than the rest, so we just played from home — solo queue and scrims — while the others practiced at the hotel. Then we all met up in Daejeon.
Back then I was playing without fear. My mindset was simple — I had nothing to lose. If anything, the other team had more to lose by dropping a game to us. So I could just show everything I'd built up that year. That's why I think I performed.
Honestly, I think I'm underperforming.
I'm trying to keep the same mindset as last year, but it's different now. Team Liquid picked me because they see me as the best mid laner in the LCS, and that adds pressure — I feel like I have to deliver the way I did at Worlds. It makes me a little nervous. But I keep reminding myself: I play my best when I'm enjoying the game.
Yeah, that's what I'm leaning on — there's no pressure on us. I'm just vibing and having a good time with my teammates.
If you let Faker roam around the map, the game gets really hard for everyone. So that's exactly what I took from that series.
I'm confident I can lane against Faker and stop him from taking over the map
That's where I think we get our chance. And even if we lose, it's double elimination, so we still get another shot at making the Bracket Stage.
I won't say our chances are high. But I think we can show some of the things we've been working on this year. I'm excited to put it out there.
Yeah, that's part of it. Their laners are among the best in both lanes, so even when you get a lead, you can't lose focus. Against the top LCK and LPL teams you can't just ego — they're really good at baiting you into overextending in the side lanes or mid. You have to stay connected as a team.
Yeah, for sure. I think we have the better chance in that one.
Ranking the LCS below the LEC is fair — the LEC has been showing more, and it's been a while since the LCS did well internationally. I'm not saying we're the best team here. But in that specific matchup against KC, I back us to have the edge.
I joined Team Liquid to "really" learn League — how to read the game, not just laning. And they have Jo "CoreJJ" Yong-In, which was the main reason. I'm learning so much from him. The best part is I don't even have to ask — he'll come to me mid-game and go, "Quid, what do you think about doing this here? This looks better." Then I think it through myself, we go back and forth, argue it out. That kind of thing is really fun.
I try not to think like that. It would just put pressure on me.
Thank you for supporting us. I hope you're enjoying our games — we'll give it our best at MSI and see how it goes. Let's enjoy it together.
A rapid-fire round to close out — yes/no answers, with optional context.
Team Liquid has not shown their true level in the LCS Final. → Yes.
Currently, NA is better than EU. → Yes.
The West in general looks stronger this year than last year. → Yes.
Playing international event make you improve more than anywhere else. → Yes.
The meta is more open than ever at this tournament. → Yeah.
Team Liquid's biggest room for improvement lies in teamfights. → Yes.
Knight is the best midlaner at this tournament. → No.
You are a better midlaner than kyeahoo. → Yes.
Team Liquid will make it out of play-ins. → Yes.
